When the Tollywood hero, Chiranjeevi, had made some comments the ruling YSRCP leaders coming onto the roads were barking at him, remarked TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Wednesday.

Addressing a massive public meeting at Chotapapayapalem of Sattenapalli Assembly segment in the combined Guntur district as part of his Yuva Galam pada yatra, Lokesh asked did Chiranjeevi speak anything wrong. The Tollywood hero only asked the ruling party not to play politics with the film industry and asked the State Government to focus on people’s welfare, Special Category Status for the State, irrigation projects and on roads repair besides creating employment opportunities to the jobless, Lokesh said.

Since Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, did nothing for the State in the past four years, these YSRCP ‘puppies’ are getting angry, Lokesh remarked. Is it not a fact that Minister, Ambati Ramababu, has danced to the tunes, he asked. “Did they not realise the values when a film was made with a cooked-up story blaming TDP supremo, Chandrababu Naidu, me and Jana Sena chief, Pawan Kalyan,” the TDP general secretary questioned.

Stating that almost all sections in the State are the victims of Jagan, including the Electricity Board employees, Lokesh said that in the YSRCP rule Andhra Pradesh has turned into ‘andhakara’ (dark) Pradesh. Lokesh announced the TDP full support to the ongoing agitation by the Electricity Board employees. Observing that Jagan has taken for a ride even the contract employees, Lokesh asked the Electricity Board employees to give a ‘current shock’ to the Chief Minister.

The TDP general secretary said that the party has already announced various welfare schemes in the name of ‘Bhavishaythuku Guarantee’ and said that immediately after forming the next government the party will take measures to fill all the vacant posts in various government wings. Farmers issues also will be resolved on a war-footing basis, he said and added that the allowances now deducted to the police department staff members will be restored.

Earlier, when the villagers Kondamodu complained of various problems and demanded panchayat status for their village, Lokesh promised to solve these problems once the TDP forms the coming government. Safe drinking water will be supplied to every doorstep and priority will be given to provide basic amenities like roads, he added.

After successfully completing the pada yatra in Sattenapalle segment the Yuva Galam entered Pedakurapadu Assembly constituency in the evening.

Coming down heavily on the Director General of Police (DGP) for claiming that there is no increase in the crime rate in Andhra Pradesh, TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Saturday felt that the State has already turned into the crime capital of India.

In a press note released during his Yuva Galam pada yatra, Lokesh told the DGP to view the ongoing criminal incidents as an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer but not from the ruling YSRCP angle. It is unfortunate that evil crimes like murders, kidnaps and raping incidents are being viewed as voluntary services, Lokesh commented in a sarcastic manner.

“Only on Friday you have certified yourself that there is no increase in the crime rate and that the law and order is completely under control. What about the setting afire the 10th standard boy, Amarnath, so inhumanly at Uppalavaripalem of Cherukupalli mandal in Bapatla district by the local YSRCP worker, Venkateswara Reddy. Is it not a crime,” Lokesh asked and said that the only mistake that Amarnath committed was that he questioned Venkateswara Reddy for harassing his sister.

Observing that these many atrocities have not been reported even in old Bihar, Lokesh pointed out the murder of a Dalit, Krishnaiah, in the home constituency of Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, a Dalit woman was done to death again in the Chief Minister’s home district, gang rape next to the Chief Minister’s residence, a girl was raped in daylight in Nellore and the abduction of the family members of an MP. “Are they not considered to be crimes or appear to be voluntary service to you,” Lokesh asked the DGP in the press note.

At Kallur campsite of Venkatagiri Assembly segment in Nellore district, Lokesh had an interaction with Yanadi community representatives. After hearing all their problems, the TDP general secretary promised to sanction pucca houses to them immediately after his party forms the coming government. He also promised Rs 1500 as monthly pension for women who crossed 18 years of age.

TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Tuesday said that he has taken the problems of the people, that he discovered during his ongoing Yuva Galam pada yatra, to the notice of party supremo and former chief minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

“On learning about all your troubles, Chandrababu Naidu has announced several welfare schemes at the Mahanadu in the name of Future Guarantee,” Lokesh said addressing a huge public meeting at Jammalamadugu on beginning his pada yatra on Tuesday after a four-day gap. Lokesh gave a halt to his Yuva Galam as he attended the Mahanadu at Rajamahendravaram.

Expressing deep satisfaction at the massive gathering for his public meeting, Lokesh felt that he is fortunate enough to undertake his pada yatra on a historic land like Jammalamadugu. Observing that the YSRCP leaders are getting totally disturbed at even the mini manifesto of the TDP announced at Mahanadu, Lokesh felt that once the main manifesto is announced the chapter of the YSRCP will come to an end.

Stating that the YSRCP leaders are asking as to how the schemes announced in the mini manifesto will be implemented, he made it clear that Chandrababu is a creator of assets and the TDP can easily implement all the schemes. “Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, is a liar as he did not implement even a single promise made to the people. What happened to the promise of total prohibition and how Jagan will go to the people seeking votes again,” he asked.

Jagan always wants the people to remain in poverty, Lokesh said and promised to create 20 lakh jobs in five years. “I am assuring you all that once the TDP forms the next government job calendar will be announced every year and study circles will be set up in all the districts in the State,” the TDP general secretary stated.

Reiterating that he will revolt if any obstructions are created for his pada yatra, Lokesh said that the YSRCP leaders tried to cause some hurdles much before he entered Kadapa district. Making a fervent appeal to the people to give a chance to the TDP, he said that once the party is back in power the people will witness what is development.

Lokesh is continuing his pada yatra in darkness as the local officials disconnected the power supply. The streetlights on the thoroughfares were deliberately switched off while a firm Lokesh did not relent and continued his Yuva Galam with a massive following of the people.

The outcome of the elections held for the Graduates constituencies in the AP Legislative Council clearly indicate that the downfall of Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, has begun, and it is the TDP that is going to come back to power, observed TDP general secretary and former minister, Nara Lokesh here on Friday.

Addressing a massive public meeting at Molakalacheruvu of Thamballapalle Assembly segment, Lokesh expressed confidence that the TDP is all set to assume power in the coming polls. Observing that he is fortunate enough to conclude his pada yatra, Yuva Galam, in Chittoor district at a historic place like Thamballapalle which produced fighters who fought for liberation, Lokesh said that he walked for 45 days in the district covering 14 Assembly segments spread over 577 km to have a first-hand information on the problems being faced by the people.

Expressing deep satisfaction over the affection shown by the people of the combined Chittoor district, Lokesh profusely thanked the police and the local TDP leaders for their cooperation extended to him.

The former minister is of the opinion that local MLA, Peddireddy Dwarakanatha Reddy, has deliberately prevented Madanapalle from upgrading as a district only to exhibit his supremacy, Lokesh promised to upgrade Madanapalle into district soon after the TDP is back into power.

Expressing concern that the local youth and the construction workers are migrating to Tamil Nadu Karnataka and other States in search of employment as there are no opportunities in the district, Lokesh promised to set up units in Chittoor district when the TDP is into power again to provide job opportunities to the youth.

“I had doubts as to why Jagan is deputing so many police personnel when I am undertaking pada yatra. But after my completion of the programme in the combined Chittoor district I got it because the Chief Minister does not want the people’s voice to come into the open. Let me make it very clear that I will not stop my pada yatra despite heavy police forces being deployed,” Lokesh said.

TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Thursday felt that it is the youth who suffered a lot after the YSRCP came to power.

During his ongoing pada yatra, Yuva Galam, Lokesh had a face-to-face interaction with the youth at the Vijaya Ganapathy Function Hall at Maddaiah Garipalli of Thamballapalle Assembly segment. “During the regime of Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh was known to be the capital of jobs in India but now it is known as ganja capital of India,” Lokesh remarked.

Expressing concern that the local MLA, who won with 60,000 majority of votes, could not complete the degree college sanctioned by the earlier government, Lokesh promised the youth to complete the degree college within one year of the TDP coming back to power.

“What happened to the promise made by Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, to fill the 2.30 lakh job vacancies,” he asked and said that not even a single teacher vacancy has been filled in the past four years.

Assuring the youth that the job calendar will be announced every year once the TDP is back into power, Lokesh asked the youth to strive to bring the TDP back into government again. Jagan, who chased away the existing companies to other States and was taking rest at his Tadepalli palace for all the four years, suddenly got up to hold the global investors summit only to cheat the businessmen and the people of the State, particularly the youth, the TDP national general secretary observed.

Jagan means jail and Chandrababu means a brand, he remarked and asked which investor will come forward to set up units in Andhra Pradesh as long as this financial extremist, who went to the jail, is in the chair.

Recalling that some IAS officers too were imprisoned along with Jagan, he felt that this time some IPS officers will have to go to jail along with him. Lokesh promised to encourage the youth in politics and will also offer positions in the government once the TDP is back in power.

TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, on Saturday said that the Jagan Mohan Reddy Government is imposing heavy burden on the people in the shape of various kinds of taxes and once the TDP comes to power again, all this burden will be reduced.

Lokesh was given a rousing reception by the locals at Angallu and the people gathered in large numbers to have a glimpse of the TDP national general secretary. Later, the youth, women and the old met him personally and told him that they are unable to lead a common life since the prices of essentials are skyrocketing. As the power connection bill is high, the pension that they have been getting has been withdrawn, some old persons informed Lokesh.

“Tell me if a single section is not affected by this selfish Government. Since the prices of petrol and diesel are heavy in the State, the prices of essential commodities too are beyond the reach of the common man,” Lokesh observed.

Once the TDP is back in power, the prices of all the essentials will be brought down and the tax burden too will be reduced, he added. Lokesh also promised to revive the pensions to all those who are now not getting due to various reasons.

As the crowd gathered heavily to meet Lokesh at the Nandireddyvaripalli campsite of Thamballapalle Assembly segment, the jealous ruling party leaders tried to create obstructions asking him to vacate it immediately. The local Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) visited the campsite at 4 am early on Saturday and left the place after the landowner showed the records.

Despite giving all the necessary permissions for Lokesh visit in the district for three days, March 11, 12 and 13, pressure is being mounted on the officials by the local MLA and his followers to create hurdles to the TDP leader. Later, the Revenue Department officials asked Lokesh and other TDP leaders to leave the district in view of the election code for the ongoing Legislative Council polls.

The TDP announced that the pada yatra will be suspended for two days, on March 12 and 13, in view of the poll code.

Later, at Kantevaripalli of Thamballapalle Assembly segment, Salivahana community leaders met Lokesh and narrated their problems to him. The representatives of Kuruba community too met him at Nandireddyvaripalli.

Suspending his pada yatra, Yuva Galam, for two days Lokesh left for Hyderabad in view of the election code and till now he has walked for 529.1 km. The Yuva Galam will be revived on March 14 at Kantevaripalli for the 42nd day.

Political interference in educational institutions is damaging the academic sector in the State, TDP general secretary, Nara Lokes, felt on Friday and promised that once the party is back into government this will be completely checked.

Totally agreeing with the representatives of the students and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of youth activists at Madanapalle, Lokesh said that Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, is taking over the aided educational institutions only with an eye on the assets owned by these institutions worth hundreds of crores.

The students and the JAC representatives submitted a memorandum to Mr Lokesh at Madanapalle during his ongoing Yuva Galam pada yatra on the problems the local educational institutions are facing.

The BT College, which produced several top dignitaries, including some chief ministers and some judges, was taken over by the State Government last year. Of the existing courses earlier, only a few are being continued, they submitted in the memorandum to Lokesh.

Though it is more than seven months since the State Government has taken over the college, till now the vacancies for the teaching and the non-teaching staff have not been filled while only an incharge principal is managing the whole institution, they mentioned in the memorandum.

The JAC leaders wanted the BT College to be upgraded as a university and the assets of the institution be protected.

“The State Government is forcibly taking over the educational institutions being managed by Christian and Minority trusts and even academic institutions are not being spared by Jagan,” he said.

Lakhs of poor students who have been studying in these institutions are deprived of their right to pursue their studies, Lokesh said and promised the JAC leaders that once the TDP forms the government again political interference in educational institutions will be checked completely and quality education will be extended to the students.

Earlier, several prominent local leaders met Lokesh at Madanapalle and complained to him that the youth are migrating to the neighbouring States as there are no employment opportunities here since there are no industries locally. They also said that the condition of the roads in the town is very bad. The tomato farmers are not getting the MSP, they said.